Punched card readers

ABSTRACT

A reader for punched cards or tapes having a plurality of spring mounted probes, one for each hole position. A card or tape is sensed by the probes and when no hole is under the probe, the spring is compressed. When a hole is sensed, the probe enters the hole and two electrical contacts are joined, thereby providing an electrical current which identifies the hole position in a load circuit.

United States Patent 1191 Evans Sept. 25, 1973 [54] UN H C READERS 3,152,247 10/1964 Brown ZOO/46 3,067,299 12/1962 Saykay 235/6l.ll C [75] Inventor Edward Evans, 3,542,979 11 1970 Collier 200/46 Portsmouth, England 1,726,348 8/1929 Haase 235/61.11 c Assigneez sealectro a gton, Hanthorn Portsmouth, England [22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1972 Primary ExaminerMaynard R. Wilbur Assistant Examiner-Robert M. Kilgore 21 A 1. N 2 l 1 PP 43 859 Attorney-James M. He1lman et al.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 8, 197! Great Britain 9090/71 [57] 7 ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl..... 235/61.11 C, 35/48 B, 235/6l.11 B,

340/149 A A reader for punched cards or tapes having a plurality [51] Int. Cl 606k 7/04, G09b 3/06, G06k 7/06, of spring mounted probes, one for each hole position. H04q 1/16 A card or tape is sensed by the probes and when no [58] Field of Search 235/6l.1l C, 61.11 B, hole is under the probe, the spring is compressed. 235/617 B, 61.6 E, 61.11 A; 200/46; 340/149 When a hole is sensed, the probe enters the hole and A; 35/48 B two electrical contacts are joined, thereby providing an electrical current which identifies the hole position in [56] References Cited 21 load circuit.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 3,437,794 4/1969 Deakin 200/46 5 Claims, 3' Drawing Figures li f///////////////// PATENTEU SEPZ 5 I973 PUNCHED CARD READERS This invention relates to punched card readers and is particularly concerned with an improved construction thereof.

It will be appreciated that the term punched card" is intended to include punched tape, punched badges, and in general any flat member that has a row or rows of holes in a coded pattern carrying information.

In general, punched card readers have a pin or probe for each hole position in a row, and the carrier, in which the pins or probes must be mounted individually, is fairly complex. The present invention relates to a simple and improved construction in which the probes of at least part of a'row are formed from a single spring member which is supported by a perforated plate at the portions that form the probes and a base member. The springs are formed with at least one convolution between adjacent points of support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a cross sectional view of the preferred form of the invention, showing the probes, a sample punched card, and the electrical contacts.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing an alternate arrangement of springs.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a single loop to illustrate how the contact portions can be bent to provide a wiping action when contact is made.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As is illustrated in FIG. 1, a punched card or badge 1 has a row of holes 2. Not all the holes in any row will, in general, be punched out and the portion of the card illustrated has only the second, fourth and fifth possible holes actually punched out. In general, there may be any number of holes in a row and any number of rows. It is possible to provide a row of sensing probes for each row of holes in the card or badge but also possible is an arrangement in which there is but a single row of probes and the badge or card is advanced to bring each row successively into register with the probes.

The card 1 is, when loaded into the reader, supported on a perforated board 3. Immediately above the position of the card or badge 1 is a board 4 having similar perforations. The board 4 may be supported by a frame and has apertures 5 that register with the holes or positions of possible holes in the row of holes that is to be sensed. On the upper side of the board 4 and flanking the top of each aperture 5 are a pair of contacts 6 which may be printed circuit contacts. These contacts are connected to electrical switching circuits in known manner in order to provide signals indicating the coded information presented by the coded row of holes. Switching may be accomplished by bridging a pair of contacts 6 or by the contacting of either of the contacts as the respective probe advances through the hole 2 in the card 1.

Above the printed circuit board is a support 7 which carries a set of spaced apart rods 8 arranged transversely to the row of apertures 5 and positioned above them. The insulated rods 8 support a spring wire 9 which along its length constitutes all the probes in the row and which is formed with a convolution between each point of support. In particular, the spring wire 9 is formed with successive small loops 10 which are held by the rods 8. Studs couldbe used in place of the rods 8. From each loop 10 the spring wire 9 includes an arcuate part 11 leading to a folded back part 12 which constitutes the probe that is to be advanced through the possible hole in the card. The folded back part l2 is flanked by two other folded back parts 13, 13a acting as flanges for the probe 12. The flanges l3 and 13a are disposed at a right angle or less with the probe 12. Between the flange 13a and the next loop 10 the spring 9 has another arcuate part 14 completing a convolution between adjacent loops 10.

In order to read the holes in the card, the carrier board 7, and the spring wire 9, are moved towards the support 3 or vice versa so that at least some of the probes advance through the holes in the card 1. Normally the probe parts 12 are disposed in the apertures 5 and extend down almost to the bottom of those apertures.

If any probe should advance through a hole, then the flanges l3 and 13a adjacent to that probe, make contact with the adjacent contacts 6. By making the angle between a flange and the probe less than a right angle a wiping contact, less susceptible to malfunction due to dirt, is obtained.

This construction is shown in FIG. 3 where the probe has entered a hole in the card.

It will be observed that this construction of probes, apart from making it possible to construct the probes from a single wire, also provides a construction in which the wire constitutes a respective resilient mounting for each probe.

In an alternative construction, shown in FIG. 2, the spring wire 9 executes two convolutions between each adjacent pair of loops 10; the curved part 11 leads to the flange 130, the curved part 14 leads to the flange l3 and the curved parts 11 and 14 pass across each other. I

The flanges l3 and 13a may normally touch the contacts that they bridge. Then as the head, comprising essentially the support 7, the board 4, and the wire 9, are lowered towards the card, the flanges are lifted from the respective contacts if the probe does not engage a hole and is accordingly arrested by the card. Otherwise, the probe enters a hole in the card and the flanges 13, 13a remain bridging the respective contacts 6.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. A punched card reader comprising a plurality of sensing probes positioned in a row and formed from a single spring wire, movable support means for retaining the probes in positions above the holes in a punched data card, movable electrical contact means formed as part of the spring wire and positioned above the probes, stationary electrical contacts secured to insulator supports and disposed under said movable contact means for contact by the contact means when the movable support is lowered and a probe penetrates a hole in the card.

2. A punched card reader as claimed in claim 1 wherein each movable electrical contact forms an angle less than a right-angle with its associated probe whereby a wiping action of the flange on its contact is obtained.

3. A reader as claimed in claim I wherein said movable support means includes a common supporting ary contacts include two conductive terminals positioned adjoining a cavity between said insulator supports through which the probe is entered. 

1. A punched card reader comprising a plurality of sensing probes positioned in a row and formed from a single spring wire, movable support means for retaining the probes in positions above the holes in a punched data card, movable electrical contact means formed as part of the spring wire and positioned above the probes, stationary electrical contacts secured to insulator supports and disposed under said movable contact means for contact by the contact means when the movable support is lowered and a probe penetrates a hole in the card.
 2. A punched card reader as claimed in claim 1 wherein each movable electrical contact forms an angle less than a right angle with its associated probe whereby a wiping action of the flange on its contact is obtained.
 3. A reader as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable support means includes a common supporting plate and a plurality of rods, each of said rods partly surrounded by spring wire.
 4. A reader as claimed in claim 1 wherein said probes are formed by bent portions of the spring wire.
 5. A reader as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stationary contacts include two conductive terminals positioned adjoining a cavity between said insulator supports through which the probe is eNtered. 